Manchester
College students, faculty and staff are sending words and prayers of
support and solidarity to the Virginia Tech community.

“With sadness and compassion, we stand beside the Virginia Tech
community as it grieves the inexplicable deaths of its students,
faculty and staff. The intensity of their loss defies our
understanding,” said President Jo Young Switzer.

Friday, April 20, a letter will be sent to Virginia Tech President
Charles W. Steger from the entire Manchester College community.
Students, faculty and staff are adding their thoughts to the letter,on a table in the central hall of the Administration Building.

At 9:15 p.m. Thursday, April 19, a candlelight gathering is
scheduled in Petersime Chapel. “Members of the Manchester College
community are invited to bring something to share – a brief reading,
poem or simply names they wish to keep in our hearts and minds and
prayers,” said interim Chaplain Sonia Smith.

A previously
scheduled meditative TaizŤ service of healing and wholeness on Wednesday
morning drew a large number of students, faculty and staff to the
chapel.

Monday, at its 10
a.m. all-school convocation, the College will observe a moment of
silence in remembering those affected by the violence at Virginia Tech.
Flags are at half-staff on campus.

“Even in tragedy, we have lessons to learn,” Switzer wrote in a
campus-wide message:

∑to work for
nonviolence in our land and around the world,

∑to cherish
the safety we have experienced in our lives,

∑to tell our
friends and family that we love them more often,

∑to realize
the sacredness and fragility of human life.

President Switzeralso has sent a message to students, employees and parents about
the College’s safety and security procedures and plans. In light of the
Virginia Tech shooting, campus leaders have reviewed the plans, and
updated communication procedures.

Manchester, with
its 100-acre campus and 1,056 students, is a close community. “Our
students and employees immediately recognize strangers among us,”
Switzer said. The College has an extremely active Early Alert system
that brings competent attention for students who are troubled.